Folding bleacher



Dec. 10, 1957 R. J. LAPPIN ETAL FOLDING BLEACHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wwww., Fw b @NNN Q .www NNN @www o www Nm. 0 A Ow@ 0p MN 5W QM Dec. 10,1957 R. J. LAPPIN ETAL t FOLDING BLEACHER 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May e,'1955 INVENToRs.:

Z. @mam YM United States Patent O FOLDING BLEACHER Richard J. Lappin,`Robert I. Anderson, and Isadole` T.

Wurn, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to The Brunswick- Balke-CollenderCompany, a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1955Serial No.506,417

14 Claims. (CLM-1.126)

This invention relates to al seatingl structure for holding a pluralityof persons'and, more particularly, to such va structurethatcan be foldedintoa compact unitfwhen improved folding bleacher adaptedto lbeinstalled-in' a gym-` nasium or the like and including a pluralityofseries' of upright supports stepped upwardly in. height from the frontseries to the rear series, seatboards rigidly mounted thereon, andmovably mounted'footboardslandskirtboards wherein the skirtboards andfront edges of'the'seatboards` form a substantially continuous inclinedclosure surface when the bleacher is in-a folded condition,tliuseliminating gaping traps for balls and other sports equipment whenthe blea-cher is not in-use.

Yet another object of this invention is to providev a new and improvedfolding bleacher includingl a series of upright frames stepped upwardlyin height from the front frame to the rear frame, seatboards rigidlyfixed tothe tops of said frames, linkage means betweenl adjacent framesto permit `stacking of each frame against the-next rearward frame, andfootboards and skirtboards operatively connected to the linkage meansbetween adjacent frames so as to be movable between two positions asthebleacher is folded and unfolded.

A more detailed object of this invention isto provide a new and improvedfolding bleacher havinga'rearxed upright support, a series of movablesupports" stepped downwardly in height from the rear support, seatboardsrigidly secured to the tops of said; supports, upper' and lower foldinglinkage means connectedbetween adjacent supports to permit stackingthereof, footboards carried'by the upper linkage means extendinghorizontally whe'nthe supports are unfolded and vertically whenl thesupports are folded, latch means for clamping the footboards inahorizontal position, skirtboards mounted on'tlie supports below theseatboards and movable' by the upper linkage means between asubstantially vertical position when the bleacher is unfolded and aninclinedfront closure position when the bleacher is` folded,y and hookmeans for locking the stacked frames together 4 Other objects landadvantages will' become" apparent from the following detaileddescription takenfvin'conne'ction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich;

Fig. 1 is a side View in elevation of' one embodiment of the inventionwhenfthe bleacher is unfoldedi Fig. 2 is a sideview in` elevationof theinvention as shown in Fig. l when the bleacher isfolded;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged,vfragmentary\ plan View of the invention as shownin Fig; l;

Fig. 4 is an.enlarged,.fragmentary'horizontalsectional viewtakenalong-line 4- 4 ofFig. lgand..

Fig. 5 is arear elevationalviewf of thereal'. framevof the inventiontakenfon line 5--5 of Fig. 1 showing a typical lateral bracingstructurefutilizedineaehfframe.Y

While the invention hereinv described'is a-preferredembodiment, it isnot intended to limit thein'vention tothe specific' form andarrangements shown, it being contemplated thatl various changes may bemade'by' those skilled inthe art Without departing from the spiritand'scope of the appended claims.

Referringnow to the embodiment of the. invention. as shown in Figs. land 2, the folding seating structure or bleacher includes a plurality ofseries of `upright supports, asframes.A,.B, Cand D. Frame Aristhe`tallest` frame while' frame D is the shortest frame, frames B andl Cbeing stepped downwardly in height from frame A t0 frame D. Adjacentframes A and B, B and C, and CandD are connected by associated foldablelinkagemeans E, F and G so as'to stack together in closely adjacentparallel relationship when the bleacher is not' in use.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 5, frame A includes two vertical tubularmembers 2 and 2'- which are secured in spaced` relationship by a bracingstructure H, including members 3, 5 and 7 secured therebetween, asbest'shown intFig:y 5. Frames B, C andD include respectively tubularmembers 8 and 8', 10 and 10', and 1'2Vl and 12", each pair of ltubularmembersbeing secured. in spaced relationship 'by' a: bracing structuresimilar to lateral bracing structure H of frame A.

For' conveniencey in further describing this invention, one endofthefolding bleacher as'shown in Figs. 1 and"2 will be: described, itbeing understood-thatV the other end is identicalin'structure'to the;`end described.-

Referring now'to Fig; l for amoredetailed description,verticalltubular'member 2l of frameA islse'cu'red-at its'. lower end tothe floor or supportingsurf-ace by any suitable means', such as a'bracket 4, and at itsupper end t'o a; vertical supporting means by anysuitable means, such asa-bolt 6, Tubular members 8 and-10am movablysupported on a floor or supporting surface respectively by rollers 14and 16 while tubular member 12 is carried by af rigidly attached,horizontal, generally Y`shaped, angledm'emberV 18 having a leg 20 andtwo arms 22 and 24 (best shown in Fig. 4'). Member 158 is movablysupported; on av Hoor' or `supporting surface by two rollers ZlandZS,roller 26 being located a-t thebasec of the leg 20 of Y-member 18 androller 28being located adjacent the end'portion of arm 22 of Y-memberlSA brace 310i extends from adjacent roller 2Std leg 20'of Yniemberv 18for additional support.

FiXed adjacent the upper end of members`2,-8" andh are brackets 32, eachof which hasv an arcuate slot 34. FixedA adjacent the upper end oftubular member 121's abracket 36; Secured to :the upper surfaces' ofbrackets 32 andy bracket 36 are se'atboards 38 which extendlongitudinally for at least the lengtli of frames A,.B, C and D.

FramesrA andzB and B and C are connected together byfol'dable linkagemeans E and F which includefvertically spacedflinksv 40 and 42 and 44Vandl 46- which are pivotably connected to tubular membersI 2 and 8respectively and extend forwardly therefrom. Brackets 48 land 50aresecured to tubular members Brand; 10 in vertically spacedlrelationandpivotally carry rearwardly-extending footboard supporting bars 52k andl54 and bell -crank'rnembersV 56 and 5S. The forward ends of links 42.and 46, respectively, are pivotably connected' to the rearward ends ofbell crank members 56 and S84 at 60 and 62 and the forward ends of'linksWand 44 .are pivotably connected respectively t-o footboard supportingbarsSZ and 54 at 64 and 66. Extending vertically betweenlinks- 40 and 42and 44 and 46, respectively, are membersor'vertical links 68and 70;Members 68Y^and are pivotally connected at their lower endsl toA links42 and 46 at 72 and 74 and each has antelongated vertical^.slot76 and78, respectively, in its upper end permitting-.a -slidable and pivotableconnectionto links 49 and 44 at 80 yand 82, the purpose of Iwhich willbe discussed subsequently.

Fastened to footboard supporting bars 52 and 54 and extendinglongitudinally thereon at least the length of frames B and C arefootboards 84.

Means are provided for `stabilizing the bleacher when unfolded includingbrackets 48 on tubular members 8 and 10, each having an angled portion86 operable to support respectively pivoted supporting bars 52 and 54when they are in a horizontal position and to positively prevent furtherdownward movement thereof. To further lock footboards 84 in thehorizontal position, a latch member 88 is pivotably mounted on each link40 and 44 and urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 90connected therebetween. Latch members 88 have hook portions 92 adaptedto engage 4pins 94 on the ends of the support- `ing bars S2 and 54, whenthe footboards 84 are in a horizontal position, and cam portions 96 inengagement with the upper ends of vertical members 68 and 70 adjacentthe elongated slot connections 76 .and 78.

Movably carried in arcuate slots 34 of brackets 32 on tubular members 2and 8 yare `skirtboard brackets 98 and plates 100, and brackets 98 andplates 100 being connected together at 102 and 104. Pivotably connectedat their upper ends to brackets 98 and plates 100 at 102 are mem-bers106. The lower ends of members 106 associated with frames A and B arepivotably connected respectively to the upper ends of arms 110 and 112,the lower ends of which are, in turn, respectively pivoted to link 40 at80 and link 44 at 82. Secured to skirtboard brackets 98 and extendinglongitudinally thereon at least the length of frames A and B areskirtboards 114.

Linkage means G foldably connecting :frames C and D includes twovertically spaced links 116 and 118 pivotably connected to tubularmember and extending forwardly therefrom. Secured to tubular member 12is a bracket 120 extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. Afootboard supporting bar 122 is pivotably connected to bracket 120 and,at 124 to the free end of li-nk 116. A link 126 is pivotably connectedat 128 to link 118 and at 130 to arm 24 of Y-memfber 18. Extendingvertically between connections 124 and 128 and pivotally mountedtherebetween is a vertical link 132. A footboard 84', similar to4footboards 84, 'is secured to footboard supporting bar 122 and extendslongitudinally thereon at least the length of `frame D.

An arm 134, similar to but shorter than arms 110 and 112, has one endpivotably connected, at 136, to link 116 and has the other end connectedto a skirtboard mounting means for frame C identical to the skirtboardmounting means described with regard to frames A and B, the elements ofwhich are identified by :prime numbers corresponding to the identifyingnumbers of ythe previously described skirtboard mounting means.

Secured to the front of seatboard bracket 36 on tubular member 12 offrame D and extending downwardly therefrom and longitudinally at leastthe length of frame D is a two section `skirtboard 138 which has a hinge140 adapted to perm-it forward swinging movement of the lower section142.

Means for stabilizing the -bleacher in a folded condition include a hookmember 144 pivotably connected with link 44 to tubular member 8. Hookmember 144 extends rearwardly from tubular member 8 and is adapted toengage a pin 146 on tubular member 2 to lock frame B to frame A when thetwo are stacked against each other. A spring 148 is connected betweenhook member 144 and link 44 so that movement of link 44, as the bleacheris folded and unfolded, respectively urges hook member 144 intoengagement with pin 146 and releases hook member 144 from pin 146.

A spring clamp member 150 (best shown in |Fig. 3) is secured to .andextends rearwardly from tubular member 10 and is adapted to releasablyengage tubular member 8 when frames B and C are stacked against eachother to clamp frame C to frame B.

A floor latch mechanism associated with frame D is adapted to stabilizethe bleacher in either a folded or unfolded condition and includes Iamember 152 secured vertically -between bracket 36 on tubular member 12and Y-'shaped member 18. Slidably carried on member 152 is a plunger 154having a oor engaging pad 156 at its lower end and a laterally-extending.pin 158 at .approximately its midpoint. A spring 160 is positionedaround plunger 154 between a lower projection 162 on member 152 and pin158 on plunger 154 and acts to urge plunger 154 upwardly. An arm 164 `ispivotably connected Vat one end to the upper end of member 152, thelower end being adapted to abut Iagainst the back side of hingedskirtboard 142. A link 166 is pivotably connected at one end to theupper end of spring-urged plunger 154 and at the other end to arm 164intermediate the two ends ythereof so that hinged skirtboard 142 isurged outwardly. Rearward movement of hinged skirtboard 142 to aVertical :position acts `against arm 164 to `force plunger 154downwardly so that floor-engaging pad 156 becomes operative to Vslightlyraise frame D so that the weight of frame D is carried not entirely byrollers 26 and 28, but substantially by plunger 154, thus Ipreventingmovement of frame D. A releasable catch for locking hinged skirtboard142 in the vertical position, wherein the oor latch mechanism isactuated, includes a spring tab 168 on hinged skirtboard 142 engage-:able with an apertured plate member 170 on Y-member 18.

To aid in folding linkage means E and F, angled brackets 172 land 174are secured to links 46 and 118 and are -operable upon movement in anupward direction to engage arms 176 and 178 on bell crank members 56 and58 to pivotably move bell crank members 56 and 58 and break the linkconnections at 60 and 62.

As to the operation of this folding structure, it will be first assumedthat the bleacher is in a fully unfolded or expanded condition as inFig. l, with footboards 84 and 84 in a horizontal position andskirtboards 114 and 114 extending generally vertically below seatboards38. First, the lower portion 142 of the skirtboard 138 on frame D isunlatched from member 170, thus tilting upwardly and releasing theHoor-engaging pad 156 on plunger 154. As the result of the release ofthis floor latch mechanism, frame D is lowered slightly until supportedsolely by rollers 26 and 28. Then, the link connections at 124 and 128are broken or unlocked by either raising footboard 84 or pullingskirtboard 114 forward.

Frame D is then pushed rearwardly raising vertical link 132 and thelinks connected thereto to allow folding of linkage G and movement offrame D against frame C. Simultaneously, footboard 84' is pivotedupwardly to a vertical position behind frame D and arm 134 is raised,causing skirtboard 114' to be moved forwardly to an inclined positionextending between the front edges of seatboards 38 associated withframes C and D.

As angle bracket 174 is raised upwardly by link 118 it engages arm 178on bell crank member 58 so as to break the link connection at 62 so thatfurther rearward movement of frame D causes linkage F to be folded andframe C to be stacked against frame B.

As frame C is moved against frame B, member 70 is raised upwardly, slot78 permitting the upper end of member 70 to engage cam portion 96 oflatch member 88 and release hook portion 92 from pin 94 so thatsupporting bar 54 and footboard 84 may be pivoted to a vertical positionbehind frame C. Skirtboard 114 associated with frame B is simultaneouslytilted outwardly to an inclined position by the upward movement of arm112 and spring clamp member 150 engages tubular member 8 as frame C isstacked against frame B.

As described with regard to frames B and C, angle bracket 172 on link46. engages arm 176 on bell crank member 56 to break the link connectionat 60`t'o allow stacking of frame B againstl frame A and' the verticaland inclined positioning respectively of footboard 84 on supporting barS2 and skirtboard 11`4l associated with frame A'.

As frame B is stacked against frame' Ahook member 144 on tubular member8 engages pin' 146 on tubular member 2 to clamp frame B to frame A.

When the bleacher is in the fully folded condition, Fig: 2, hingedskirtboard 142 is then moved rearwardly to a vertical position andsecured therein by engagement of'tab 168 with member 170, thus,actuating plunger 154 and clamping frame D to the floor or supportingsurface.

It may be seen in Fig; 2 that when theV bleacher is folded, the framesare in ay stacked condition closely adjacent to eachother, theskirtboards 114 and 114' and front edges of the seatboards 38 forming asubstantially continuous inclined or sloping closure surfacel extendingdownwardly from the seatboard of frame Ato the seatboard of frame D.

To unfold and expand the folded structure into. the unfolded usableconditionplunger 154 of the oor latch mechanism is first released aspreviously discussed and frame D pulled forward. As frame D is movedforwardly, adjacent frames are unhooked from each other, footboards 84and 84 are pivoted to the horizontal position and locked in saidposition and skirtboards 114 and 114 moved rearwardly to the positionextending generally vertically downwardly from the front edge of eachseatboard. The floor latch mechanism is actuated and the bleacher isready for use.

It is to be noted that the various linkage connections are positivelylocked in place by the weight of the parts themselves and do not dependfor locking on the weight of persons sitting on the bleachers.

It is intended and believed evident that this invention is not limitedto a folding seating structure having four frames or supporting sectionsas shown in the figures and described herein, as the number of frames orsupporting sections utilized may be widely varied for the particularinstallation desired.

We claim:

l. In a folding seating structure, in combination; a stationary rearframe, a plurality of intermediate frames, a front frame, all of saidframes extending generally vertically and decreasing in height from rearto front, a seatboard mounted adjacent the top of each of said frames, askirtboard movably mounted adjacent each of the seatboards, foldablelink means connected between adjacent frames so as to maintain theframes in parallel relationship during movement toward and away fromeach other, the link means between adjacent intermediate framescomprising a pair of vertically-spaced front links pivotally connectedat their front ends t-o the forwardly disposed intermediate frame, apair of vertically-spaced rear links pivotally connected at their frontends to said front links and at their rear ends to the rearwardlydisposed intermediate frame, a footboard mounted on the upper frontlink, latch means mounted on the upper rear linkV and engageable withsaid upper front link for holding said links in their extendedpositions, second latch means associated with the rear of the upper rearlink for engaging a frame disposed to the rear thereof when the linksare folded and the frames are disposed adjacent each other, `an armextending upwardly from the rear lower link and slidably mounted on therear upper link to release said rst latch from engagement with the frontupper link and upon continued upward movement cause folding of saidupper links to move the adjacent frames successively toward each other,means including an arm extending upwardly from the rea-r upper link tomove the skirtboarddisposed thereabove to an inclined position extendingdownwardly andforwardly fromtllcv front edge ofthe associated seatboardas the links 4are folded and means urging the secondi latch" intoYengaging position as the linksk are folded. j

2; A foldable seating structure comprising, a stationary rear frame,. aplurality of intermediate framesa front frame, all of said framesextending generally vertically and decreasing in height from reartofront, foldable link means extending between adjacent frames, aseatboard secured adjacent the topv of each frame, the seatboards beingin stepped' relation and` having theirfront edges lying in an inclinedplaneextending downwardly and` forwardly when the link is folded, aninclined skirtboard betweenadjacent seatboardsmovably mounted on thesame frame as the seatboard disposed thereabove and having its outerwear surface` disposed in said plane and substantially filling the spacebetween the front edges of adjacent seatboards when the-link means isfolded, a footboard extended vertically behind each of the seatboardsexcept the uppermost seatboard when the link means is folded and meansoperative in response to lateral opening movement between adjacentseatboards and their frames to movethe skirtboard disposed therebetweento a generally up andt down out-of-the-way position beneath theseatboard mounted: on the same frame and to move the footboards frombehindv the'seatboards to generally horizontal positions belowandbetween adjacent seatboards.

3Q A seatingstructure comprising, a rear frame, a front frame, aplurality of intermediate upright frames increasing in height from frontto rear, pivotally interconnected front and rear links connected betweeneach of said frames, a seat member rigidly mounted on each frameadjacent the top thereof, a skirtboard associated with each frame andseatboard, means mounting the skirtboards on the' rear and intermediateframes for movement between a rst position wherein they extend generallyvertically beneath the associated seatboards andfa second positionwherein they are inclined downwardly and forwardly from the front edgeof their associated seatboards to form a substantially continuousinclined front closure for the structure, a footboard mounted on one oflsaid front links between adjacent frames and meansincluding an armextending upwardly from one of said rear links between adjacent framesto move the skirtboard between said'adjacent frames toward the firstposition as the front and rear links are moved to space the frames fromeachother and to move the skirtboard to its second position' as thefront and rear links are folded to move the frames adjacent to eachother.

4. A folding bleacher comprising, in combinati-on; a rear frame adaptedto be secured t-o a supporting structure, a front frame, a series ofintermediate frames, said front and intermediate frames being movabletoward and away from said rear frame to fold and unfold the bleacher,seatboards secured adjacent the top of each frame, said seatboardsforming a spaced seating structure upwardly stepped from the front framewhen the bleacher isunfolded, a skirtboard movably carried by eachseatboard, said skirtboards adapted to extend generally downwardly fromthe seatboards in out-of-the-way positions when'the bleacher is unfoldedand adapted to form a substantially continuo-us, downwardly inclinedcover surface when-the bleacher is folded, means responsive tofol-ding'and unfolding the bleacher for moving the skirtboardsbetweenthe two positions, and releasable latch meansl on adjacentv frames forsecuring the frames together when the bleacher is folded.

5. A folding bleacher construction comprising, in combination; arelatively tall, rigidly secured vertical frame, a relatively shortmovable vertical frame, intermediate movable vertical frames stepped inheight from said short frame to said tall frame, seatboards rigidlysecured to the tops of said frames, frontl and rear upper linkspivotally connected between adjacent frames, front and'rear' lower linkspivotally connectedbetween-adjacent said relatively tall frame, saidslidably connecte-d vertical members providing release of said latchmeans upon movement of each of said frames toward said relatively tallframe to allow said footboards to be pivoted into a vertical positionbetween adjacent frames, spring-urged hook means on said intermediateframes associated with the upper rear links and adapted to engage thenext rearmost frame when said frames are moved towards said relativelytall frame to clamp said frames together, brackets on the lower rearlinks adapted on upward movement to engage an extension on the nextrearwardly disposed lower front link to unlock the lower linkconnections as the next foremost frame is moved rearward, skirtboardsmovably mounted beneath each seatboard and adapted to extendsubstantially vertically downwardly therefrom when said bleacher isunfolded, an arm operably connected between each skirtboard and eachupper rear link adapted when the frames are moved toward said relativelytall frame to move said skirtboards into a forwardly inclined positionextending between the front edges of each pair of adjacent seatboards,said skirtboards and the front edges of said seatboards forming asubstantially continuous inclined cover surface when the bleacher isfolded, and a releasable oor lock mechanism associated with saidrelatively short front frame for clamping said frame to the oor toprevent movement of the frame toward or away from said relatively tallframe.

6. A foldable seating structure, including a plurality of series ofupright supports arranged one behind the other, each series beingshorter than the series behind, a longitudinally extending seat securedto the top of each series of supports, all of the supports except thetallest being movable rectilinearly toward or from the tallest supportand at all times operatively engaging a supporting surface at theirlower ends, footboards disposed between the seat supports andoperatively hinged thereto and movable between horizontal and verticalpositions, operative connections between each series of seat supportsand the series immediately behind automatically causing the tilting ofthe footboards from a horizontal to a vertical position upon therearward movement of the seat supports toward the rearmost seatsupports, a skirtboard movably mounted beneath each seatboard andadapted to extend vertically therebelow when the adjacent forwardlydisposed support is moved away therefrom, linkage means operablyconnected to said skirtboards and to said `operative connections betweeneach series of supports and the series behind automatically causing thetilting forward of said skirtboards from a vertical to an inclinedposition upon the rearward movement of the seat supports toward therearmost seat supports so that said skirtboards form with the frontedges of said seats a substantially continuous sloping front closure forthe seating structure.

7. A foldable seating structure, including a plurality of series ofupright supports arranged one behind the other, each series beingshorter than the series behind, a longitudinally-extending seat rigidlymounted on each series of supports, all -of the supports except thetallest being movable rectlinearly toward or from the tallest supportand at all times operatively engaging a supporting surface at theirlower ends, each series of seat supports except the tallest having afootboard supporting bar pivoted thereto and extending rearwardlytherefrom,

footboards mounted upon said supporting bars, a rst series of horizontallinks pivoted to the vertical supports of each series except theshortest series of vertical supports extending forwardly therefrom andpivoted to said footboard supports, a series of foldable linkagespivoted at their outer ends -to adjacent seat supports, vertical linkspivoted at their lower ends to said foldable linkages and at their upperends to said rst series of horizontal links, skirtboards movably carriedbeneath said seatboards, and support means operably connected betweensaid skirtboards and said first series of horizontal links, movement ofsaid supports toward the tallest support causing said footboards to bepivoted into a vertical position by said supporting bars and saidskirtboards to be moved from a generally vertical position to aninclined front closure position by said support means.

8. A folding bleacher structure comprising, in combination; a series ofupright frames stepped in height upwardly from a front frame to arigidly secured rear frame, foldable linkage means between each pair offrames permitting movement of all of said frames except said rear frameagainst the next adjacent rear frame, seatboards rigidly securedadjacent the upper ends of said frames, skirtboards movably mountedbeneath each seatboard, and motion transmitting connections between saidskirtboards and said linkage means, said skirtboards being movable bysaid motion transmitting connections linkage means from a generallyVertical position below said seatboards to an inclined front closureposition when said linkage means are folded and said frames are movedagainst the adjacent rear frames.

9. A folding bleacher structure comprising, in combination; a fixedsupport, a series of movable supports stepped downwardly in height fromsaid xed support, seatboards rigidly carried on the tops of saidsupports, skirtboards movably mounted on and below said seatboards, linkmeans connected between adjacent supports f-or foldably stackingadjacent supports against each other, footboards between adjacentsupports carried on said link means and pivotable between a vertical anda horizontal position as the frames are foldably stacked and unstacked,and means connected between said skirtboards and said link meansoperable to move said skirtboards between an inclined closure positionand a generally vertical position, respectively, as the frames arefoldably stacked and unstacked.

l0. A folding bleacher structure comprising, in combination; a series offrames stepped in height, seatboards rigidly secured to the tops of saidframes, footboards disposed between said frames, movable skirtboardscarried by said seatboards, link means between adjacent frames operableto permit stacking yof said frames together, means including said linkmeans for supporting said footboards in a horizontal position when thebleacher is open and in an upright position when the bleacher is folded,and means including said link means for supporting said skirtboards in agenerally Vertical position when the bleacher is open and in a forwardlyinclined position when the bleacher is folded to form with front edgesof said seatboards a substantially continuous sloping closure surfacetherefor.

1l. A foldable seating structure, including a plurality of series ofupright frames arranged one behind. the other, each series being shorterthan the series behind, a longitudinally-extending seat rigidly mountedon each series of frames, all of the frames except the tallest beingmovable toward or from the tallest frame and at all times operativelyengaging a supporting surface at their lower ends, footboards disposedbetween adjacent frames and pivotably mounted on the forward one of saidframes, skirtboards movably mounted beneath said seatboards, andoperative connections between each series of frames for folding thestructure and automatically causing the pivoting of the footboards froma horizontal to a vertical position and the tilting of the skirtboardsfrom a vertical position to a forwardly sloping position upon therearward movement of the frames toward the rearmost frames.

12. A foldable seating structure, including a plurality of uprightframes arranged one behind the other, each frame being shorter than theframe behind, a longitudinally-extending seat rigidly mounted on eachframe, all of the frames except the tallest being movable toward or fromthe tallest frame, each frame except the tallest having a footboardsupporting bar pivoted thereto, footboards mounted upon said supportingbars, upper links pivoted to each frame except the shortest frame andpivoted to said footboard bars, lower linkages pivoted at their outerends to adjacent frames, vertical members pivoted at their lower ends tosaid lower linkages and at their upper ends to said upper links,skirtboards movably mounted on said frames underlying said seatboards,and arms operably connected between said skirtboards, and said upperlinks adapted to move said skirtboards from a downwardly extendingout-oftheway position to a sloping front closure position when saidframes are moved toward said tallest frame.

13. A foldable seating structure, including a series of upright framesarranged one behind the other, each frame being shorter than the framebehind, a longitudinally-extending seat fixed to the top of each frame,all of the frames except the tallest adapted to be foldably stackedagainst the next rearward adjacent frame, hook means on eachintermediate frame for automatically clamping it to the next rearwardframe when it is moved toward the tallest frame, operative connectionsbetween adjacent frames for foldable stacking thereof, a skirtboardmovably mounted on each frame beneath the seatboard and adapted toextend vertically therebelow when the adjacent forward frame is movedaway therefrom, and an arm connected between each skirtboard and saidoperative connections automatically causing the tilting forward of saidskirtboards from the vertical to an inclined position as the frames arefoldably stacked against the next rearmost frames so that saidskirtboards form with front edges of said seats a substantiallycontinuous sloping front closure for the seating structure.

14. A folding seat struct-ure comprising, in combination.; a rear frameadapted to be secured to a supporting structure, a front frame mountedon rollers, a series of intermediate frames mounted on rollers,seatboards fixed adjacent the top of each frame and forming an upwardlystepped arrangement 'from said front frame to said rear frame, linkagemeans between each pair of adjacent frames adapted to permit relativemovement thereof between an expanded condition and a closely adjacentcondition, a skirtboard associated with each frame and adapted to extendgenerally vertically below each seatboard when the frames are in theexpanded condition, said skirtboards forming a substantially continuousdownwardly inclined cover surface when all of said frames are in theclosely adjacent condition, means including said linkage means formoving said skirtboards between the two positions, a footboard disposedon a part of said linkage means behind said front and intermediateframes, said footboards being supported in a horizontal position by saidparts of said linkage means when said frames are in the expandedcondition and in an upwardly-extending vertical position when saidframes are in the closely adjacent condition, and plunger meansassociated with said front frame for locking the seating structure inany desired position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS308,656 Du Bois Dec. 2, 1884 2,147,564 Vance Feb. 14, 1939 2,183,056Albach et al Dec. 12, 1939 2,205,624 Horn June 25, 1940 2,706,835 UllomApr. 26, 1955

